Improvement in barbed fences



C. F. WASHBURN.

BARBED FENCE $10,186,389. Y Patented. Jan.16, 1877.

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PATENT OFFICE,

CHARLES F. WASHBURN, OF woEcESTEE, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT IN BARBED FENCES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 186,389, dated January 16, 1877 application filed July 20, 1876.

To all whom it may concern: 7 I

Be it known that I, CHARLES F. WASH- BURN, of the city and county of Worcester and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fences; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings, forming apart of this specification, and in which- Figure 1 represents a side view of a section of a fence illustrating my present invention, one end of this section illustrating the invention applied to a tight board fence, and the other end to an open board fence. Fig. 2 represents a side view of a section of an open board fence, and Fig. 3 represents a side view of a section of a tight board fence, with my invention applied thereto.

To enable those skilled in the art to which my invention belongs to make and use the same, I will proceed to describe it more in detail.

The nature of my invention consists in the combination, with the upper or top part of a wooden or metal fence, of a barbed wire or metallic guard arranged in regular or irregular curves or bends, whereby the wooden or metallic fence is rendered more difficult to approach, surmount, or after more fully explaine In the drawings, the parts marked A represent the posts, and B the horizontal boards or rails secured to said posts, while in Figs. 1 and 3 the parts marked 0 represent vertical boards secured to the horizontal rails B for the purpose of making a tight board fence. D represents the barbed wi re or metallic guard, formed, in this instance, by twisting together two strands of wire, upon one of which is arranged a series of barbs, a, made in the form of the Glidden patented barb, so called.

The barbed wire or metallic guard may be made of asingle strand of wire or metal provided, at suitable distances, with barbs or metallic points, although I prefer the one shown in the drawings.

In applying the barbed wire or metallic guard D to the upper part of the fence, it is run so as to form regular or irregular curves or bends E, according to the wishes or tastes of those having it applied to the fence.

pass, as will be here When it is applied or secured to a fence having a straight or horizontal top, with pointed or other shaped posts, it gives the fence a very ornamental appearance to have the barbed wire or metallic guard applied, as shown in the drawings, while at the same time it will be seen that the pointed tops of the posts are well protected as well as the upper rail, thereby rendering it almost impossible for either man or beast to surmount and pass over the fence without being subjected to great bodily injury, and after one or two attempts no further efforts to pass or even surmount the fence will be made consequently, my invention is very useful for garden and other fences where it is particularly desirable to prevent cats and dogs from passing over the fence, and is also very useful in preventing purloiners of fruits from climbing over fences.

My invention is usually applicable to picket- .fences, since the bends can be arranged to run over the tops of the pickets, as well as down between them, or the barbed wire or metallic guard may be applied to the sides of the pickets just above the upper rail, to which they are attached, with the bends extending up and down a sufficient distance to protect both the tops of the pickets and the upper edge of the top rail. 1

My invention can also be applied with good success to the tops of brick and stone walls; and it will be understood that the barbed wire or metallic guard may be attached or secured to the fence or wall by means of staples, hooks,

or in any other convenient manner.

Having described my improvements in fences, what I claim therein as new and of my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is--- The combination, with the top or edges of a fence or wall, of a barbed-wire guard arranged and secured in regular or irregular curves or bends, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

CHARLES E. WASHBURN.

Witnesses:

EDWIN E. MOORE, FEED. L. GOLDING. 

